Newman, Augustus Charles
- Date of birth:
- August 19th, 1904 (Buckhurst Hill/Essex, United Kingdom)
- Date of death:
- April 26th, 1972 (Sandwich/Kent, United Kingdom)
- Service number:
- 33927
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
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Efficiency Medal / Territorial Decoration
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
- Awarded on:
- March 14th, 1945
With three clasps.
1st, 2nd and 3rd clasp awarded as per LG June 10th, 1952
The London Gazette Publication date:6 June 1952 Supplement:39567
Page 3172
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
- Awarded on:
- June 19th, 1945
- Awarded for:
- Operation Chariot
Citation:
"On the night of 27th/28th March, 1942, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman was in command of the military force detailed to land on enemy occupied territory and destroy the dock installations of the German controlled naval base at St. Nazaire.
This important base was known to be heavily defended and bomber support had to be abandoned owing to bad weather. The operation was therefore bound to be exceedingly hazardous, but Lieutenant-Colonel Newman, although empowered to call off the assault at any stage, was determined to carry to a successful conclusion the important task which had been assigned to him.
Coolly and calmly he stood on the bridge of the leading craft, as the small force steamed up the estuary of the River Loire, although the ships had been caught in the enemy searchlights and a murderous cross-fire opened from both banks, causing heavy casualties.
Although Lieutenant-Colonel Newman need not have landed himself, he was one of the first ashore and, during the next five hours of bitter fighting, he personally entered several houses and shot up the occupants and supervised the operations in the town, utterly regardless of his own safety, and he never wavered in his resolution to carry through the operation upon which so much depended.
An enemy gun position on the roof of a U-boat pen had been causing heavy casualties to the landing craft and Lieutenant- Colonel Newman directed the fire of a mortar against this position to such effect that the gun was silenced. Still fully exposed, he then brought machine gun fire to bear on an armed trawler in the harbour, compelling it to withdraw and thus preventing many casualties in the main demolition area.
Under the brilliant leadership of this officer the troops fought magnificently and held vastly superior enemy forces at bay, until the demolition parties had successfully completed their work of destruction.
By this time, however, most of the landing craft had been sunk or set on fire and evacuation by sea was no longer possible. Although the main objective had been achieved, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman nevertheless was now determined to try and fight his way out into open country and so give all survivors a chance to escape.
The only way out of the harbour area lay across a narrow iron bridge covered by enemy machine guns and although severely shaken by a German hand grenade, which had burst at his feet, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman personally led the charge which stormed the position and under his inspiring leadership the small force fought its way through the streets to a point near the open country, when, all ammunition expended, he and his men were finally overpowered by the enemy.
The outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty of this fearless officer, his brilliant leadership and initiative, were largely responsible for the success of this perilous operation which resulted in heavy damage to the important naval base at St. Nazaire."
Augustus Charles Newman, Barham Crematorium, Great Britain.
"On the night of 27th/28th March, 1942, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman was in command of the military force detailed to land on enemy occupied territory and destroy the dock installations of the German controlled naval base at St. Nazaire.
This important base was known to be heavily defended and bomber support had to be abandoned owing to bad weather. The operation was therefore bound to be exceedingly hazardous, but Lieutenant-Colonel Newman, although empowered to call off the assault at any stage, was determined to carry to a successful conclusion the important task which had been assigned to him.
Coolly and calmly he stood on the bridge of the leading craft, as the small force steamed up the estuary of the River Loire, although the ships had been caught in the enemy searchlights and a murderous cross-fire opened from both banks, causing heavy casualties.
Although Lieutenant-Colonel Newman need not have landed himself, he was one of the first ashore and, during the next five hours of bitter fighting, he personally entered several houses and shot up the occupants and supervised the operations in the town, utterly regardless of his own safety, and he never wavered in his resolution to carry through the operation upon which so much depended.
An enemy gun position on the roof of a U-boat pen had been causing heavy casualties to the landing craft and Lieutenant- Colonel Newman directed the fire of a mortar against this position to such effect that the gun was silenced. Still fully exposed, he then brought machine gun fire to bear on an armed trawler in the harbour, compelling it to withdraw and thus preventing many casualties in the main demolition area.
Under the brilliant leadership of this officer the troops fought magnificently and held vastly superior enemy forces at bay, until the demolition parties had successfully completed their work of destruction.
By this time, however, most of the landing craft had been sunk or set on fire and evacuation by sea was no longer possible. Although the main objective had been achieved, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman nevertheless was now determined to try and fight his way out into open country and so give all survivors a chance to escape.
The only way out of the harbour area lay across a narrow iron bridge covered by enemy machine guns and although severely shaken by a German hand grenade, which had burst at his feet, Lieutenant-Colonel Newman personally led the charge which stormed the position and under his inspiring leadership the small force fought its way through the streets to a point near the open country, when, all ammunition expended, he and his men were finally overpowered by the enemy.
The outstanding gallantry and devotion to duty of this fearless officer, his brilliant leadership and initiative, were largely responsible for the success of this perilous operation which resulted in heavy damage to the important naval base at St. Nazaire."
Augustus Charles Newman, Barham Crematorium, Great Britain.
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
- Awarded on:
- December 20th, 1945
Citation:
"Lt.-Col. NEWMAN was captured at ST. NAZAIRE on 28 March 1942. Subsequently he was imprisoned at MARLAG and MILAG NORD and OFLAG IX A/H (SPANGENBURG).
He served as a prominent member of the escape committe at the latter camp for 3,5 years.
The construction of one tunnel was under his control, but it was discovered before its final completion. He also attempted to break through a blocked door leading to the moat; this escape was also frustrated by the Germans. During the latter part of his stay at SPANGENBURG, Lt-Col. NEWMAN was responsible for the security if wireless sets and in addition he was in secret communication with the War Office."
"Lt.-Col. NEWMAN was captured at ST. NAZAIRE on 28 March 1942. Subsequently he was imprisoned at MARLAG and MILAG NORD and OFLAG IX A/H (SPANGENBURG).
He served as a prominent member of the escape committe at the latter camp for 3,5 years.
The construction of one tunnel was under his control, but it was discovered before its final completion. He also attempted to break through a blocked door leading to the moat; this escape was also frustrated by the Germans. During the latter part of his stay at SPANGENBURG, Lt-Col. NEWMAN was responsible for the security if wireless sets and in addition he was in secret communication with the War Office."
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- W. and C. French Ltd. Civil Engineering and Public Works Contractors Essex
- Awarded on:
- June 13th, 1957
Director
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Chevalier de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- No. 2 Commando, 2nd Special Service Brigade, Combined Operations Headquarters, War Office, British Government
With oak leaf
Sources
- Photo: Wikimedia Commons
- - Page 3171 | Supplement 37134, 15 June 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Page 6189 | Supplement 37396, 18 December 1945 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Page 1369 | Supplement 37499, 12 March 1946 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- Page 3172 | Supplement 39567, 6 June 1952 | London Gazette | The Gazette
- https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/41089/supplement/3381
- Victoria Cross Reference
- The Register of the Victoria Cross - uitgegeven door This Engeland 1997 - ISBN 0906324270
- Speciale dank aan Iain Stewart van The History of the Victoria Cross
- Lord Ashcroft Medals - The World’s Largest Victoria Cross Collection
Photo
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